December Quick Hits

There are a few of topics to cover, but none are exactly a full posts length. Time to dust of the quick hits segment.

-The volleyball team finished its season at 21-11 with a second-round loss to UT El Paso in the National Invitational Volleyball Tournament. The Miners beat the Mavs in 4, 18-25, 25-23, 13-25 and 21-25. The score variation encapsulated what the Mavericks program has been of late. Scoring as little as 13, but winning a set, versus the UTEP's variation of two, winning three and losing one by 23. UTA had a lead in every set but the third, trailed 15-17 in the first and had a 15-14 lead in the fourth. Mav Nation has seen a lot of that type of inconsistency the last two decades or so.

It also contrasted with the three sets to none win in the first-round. Florida Atlantic's 18, 22 and 20 scores meant the Mavs defense was pretty consistent. I'd say it was the best all-around match of the year. 

The 21 wins are the most since 2014's 25. I expressed concern in the previous post about how the non-conference was stacked with lower-level competition. I'll watch the upcoming schedule releases with much anticipation to see if they keep trying that formula. 

We'll also see just what happens with the probable loss of all-around performer Brianna Ford. The senior outside hitter added all Southwest Regional Honorable Mention from the American Volleyball Coaches Association to her other earned platitudes. She could be hard to replace.

-The men's basketball team had an interesting week. They opened non-conference play with a nice _-_ win at home against Abilene Christian. After trailing early, they found an offensive rhythm and played a defensive style that frustrated the Wildcats in the 86-71 victory. 

Two days later, they traveled to the preseason favorites in Grand Canyon. In a game that will likely haunt them for a while, the Mavs lead by as much as 12 in the second held and held a lead under the three minute mark. However, as the lead tightened a little more than seven minutes left in the second half, the Mavericks missed seven layups and a couple of free throws in the 76-69 loss. There were three turnovers in the last thirty seconds with the first coming in a 67-70 deficit. After this game, it felt more like UTA lost than GCU won.

Hard to tell where this team really is. If they play like they did against New Mexico, Arizona in the first half and GCU, they may make a run for one of the top seeds in the conference tournament, maybe even a conference title of some kind. But if this is the team that lost to Texas State and played in the second half of the Arizona game, then they will be a late qualifier to the tournament. In either scenario, there's nothing that I have seen to make me think making the tournament is in jeopardy.

Aaron Cash record 17 points, 17 rebounds in the 74-37 win against North Texas-Dallas. I normally give little attention to the non-DI games, but two things stick out. Of Cash's 17 rebounds, 12 were offensive, tying a Maverick record. Sam Norton did it in 1984 and Johnny McDowell was the most recent in 1992.

Second, many people, like me, aren't enthused by the non-DI games and it is generally one of the lower attended games. The tip-off was at 4 pm and the 1,696 in attendance was higher than the Alcorn State, Texas State and Abilene Christian due to the University closing earlier to allow staff and students to attend the game. While that number is still small, it is larger than the average, especially for non-DI, and could be something we see again in the future.

-The women's basketball team has had a tough go of it to start this year. With one win in nine tries, the bigger issue is that seven of the losses were by double digits. The schedule is also one of the hardest with a cumulative opponent win/loss record of 54-22. All but North Carolina A&T have a winning record, and they are just a game under. The records of UTA's opponents are:

South Florida 6-3, Lamar 4-3, Texas-Austin 10-0, UT San Antonio 5-3, Illinois St 6-2, NCA&T 3-4, Abilene Christian 4-4, Grand Canyon 7-2 and Colorado 9-1.

The schedule lightens just a little with Sam Houston (4-3), Jacksonville State (3-5) and New Mexico State (4-4) left to close out non-conference play.

-Finally, the softball schedule was released on Friday and there's some decent teams visiting Arlington. The star power is a little less than last year, so another attendance record will be harder to attain this year.

Coming to Allan Saxe Stadium are, in order of appearance, the Tennessee Volunteers, Michigan State Spartans, Missouri-Kansas City Kangaroos, DePaul Blue Demons, Boise State Broncos, Texas A&M-Corpus Christi Islanders (x2), Incarnate Word Cardinals (x2), Grambling State Tigers, UT San Antonio Roadrunners, North Texas Eagles, Southern Utah Thunderbirds (x3), Stephen F. Austin Lumberjacks (x3), Utah Valley Wolverines (x3), Oklahoma State Cowboys and Seattle Redhawks (x3).

The first game occurs in two months on February 8.